Spring wind-up for wagons



SPRING WIND-UP FOR WAGONS Fild Feb. 15, 1955 4 SheetsSheet l 28, 1937.J. KUCHAR SPRING WIND-UP FOR WAGONS Filed Feb. 15, 1953 4 sheets-sheet 2J. KUCHAR ZJMAH SPRING WIND-UP FOR WAGONS Filed Feb. 15, 1 935 4Sheets-'S hee't 3' Dec. 28, 1937. J. KUCHAR SPRING WIND-UP FOR WAGONSFiled Feb. 15, 1933 4 Sheets-sheaf 4 Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITEDSTATES A SPRING WIND-UP 'FOR 'WAGQNS Joseph Kuchar, Chicago, Ills.assignor to Athey Truss'Wheel (la,- Chicago, 111., .a corporation ofIllinois Application February 15, 1933, Serial No. 656,819

7 Claims. (01. 298+35) This invention relates to a spring windup forwagons. According to the present invention a spring windup is providedfor wagons,'which is adapted to close the doors thereof. The spring '51:windup is particularly suitable for use in connection with a bottom dumpwagon which com-- prises bottom doorsiad apted to open downwardly todump the load It is particularly applicable tosuch .a bottom dump wagoninwhich theload 11); operates the doors in the downward direction andthe spring windup operates them in the opposite direction. Thisinvention is not intended to be limited to this particular kind ofwagon, except in so far as set forth in the appended claims.

a In; The invention will readily be understood from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a rear elevation of awagon embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an elevational View on a larger scale, of the rear end of thewagon, the door closing mechanism being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational detail taken on the line '4-4 of Fig.3, and showing the hand-.

' operated mechanism in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a similar more fragmentary view showing an operative positionof the hand controls, 39, considerable structure being omittedfor thesake of clearness;

Fig. .6 is a sectional plan detail view taken on the .line 6-6 of'Fig.3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view taken onthe line stituted by doors l3which are pivotally mounted at their outer edges. Each' door I3 isprovided with sheaves M on its underside, between which passlongitudinally lengths of a cable I5. The 50 sheaves M are located atthe inner or meeting edges of the doors l3 and one is located at eachend of the door l3. The cable I5 passes over a sheave l6 located at thefront end of the wagon, this sheave receiving the center portion of the55 cable. '7

The ends of the cable pass upwardly at the rear of the'wagonbody passingover sheaves I! mounted thereon, and said ends are secured to a drum l8."It will readily be Seen that when the cable I5 is wound up on the drum18, the doors 5 will close and the sheave It will provide equalizationof thecable necessitated by irregularity of the cableends upon the drum18 or other causes, allowing both doors to be closed tightly. The.structureso far described is well known and need 10 notbe'describedminutely. I V

The drum l8 preferably comprises two halves l9 and 20, which are keyedor otherwise suitably mountedin rigid relation upona drum shaft 2|.

Each half of the drum I8 is provided with'means, 115.

.wi'sesuitablysecured toja channel section 26. 20

The bearing. 24' is mounted in a housing 21 which is also bolted to thechannel 26. The channel .26 is relatively wide and. relatively short,extending only a part of the way across the. end. of the wagon. It isbolted to the rear end of the wagon, 25 being preferably secured toreenforcing angles 28, as shown in Fig. .3, so that a. space 29 is leftbe tween the channel 23 and the rear wall 30 of the wagon. In this waythe mechanism mounted in the channel is protected from misalignment or30 jamming, resulting from isolated changes in the wall 30 due toextremely heavy loads, collisions with other machinery,,etc. The outerend of drum elementZll isformed into a ratchet 3|.

the drum shaft 2i has keyed thereto a pinion 32.

.The other end of the shaft 2| has rigidly mounted thereon a ratchet 33,the teeth of which are directed oppositely to the teeth of the ratchet3| asbest seenin Figs. 4, 9 and 10. The ratchet 33 may be splined on theshaft 2| and is held thereon against longitudinal movement by meansof'oolla'rs 34 locatedon either side of the ratchet The housing 21extends upwardly and encloses a'gear 35;' which is rotatablymounted onawall.

of saidhousi'ng' and is in mesh with the pinion 32." The gear 35carriesan integral outwardly directed sleeve 36 which is located withina cylindrical mouth .31 of the housing 21, which mouth is directedtowards the right, as shown in Fig. 3. The sleeve '36 is' provided witha bayonet 'slot" 38 which receives 'an inwardly projecting hooked end ofa helical spring 39. The other end of the spring 39 is similarly hookedand is received within a bayonet slot 40 provided in a sleeve 4|. Thissleeve 4| is integral with an end member 42, which is circular inoutline, its diameter being somewhat larger than the diameter of thespring 39. The end member 42 is adapted to be received in a housing 43,which may form part of a casting 44 which is rigidly secured to the rearend of the wagon. The end member 42 comprises a nut portion 45 whichprojects through a suitable opening in the housing 43 so that it may beactuated by a wrench, to adjust the tension of the spring 39. The endmember 42 comprises a flange which is provided with openings 46 aroundthe periphery of the end member 42. The housing 43 is provided with acorresponding opening 41 which is adapted to receive a pin 48 so as tohold the spring 39 in a desired state of tension. The spring 39 isenclosed by a cylindrical housing 49 which projects into the mouth 31 ofthe housing 21 and into a similar oppositely directed mouth in thecasting 44. These mouths are provided with felt washers 56 which serveto keep out dust and grit while permitting a certain amount of relativedisplacement between the housing 21, the casting 44 and the cylinder 49.This displacement is readily permitted by the spring 39, in view of thefact that no shaft or drum passes therethrough.

Ratchet 3| is adapted to cooperate with a pawl or dog 5| and ratchet 33is adapted to cooperate with a pawl or dog 52. The relation of thesepawls and ratchets is best shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Fig. 9 shows thecondition when the doors are closed. In this condition the load in thewagon tends to pull the cables l5 so as to unwind the drum |8, that is,revolves it in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 9. Thistendency is opposed by the pawl 52 which is in engagement with theratchet 33. At this time the pawl 5| is out of contact with the ratchet3|. The relation of the pawls 5| and 52 and ratchets 3| and 33, whichobtains after the doors are opened, is shown in Fig. 10. Here there isno load exerting a force against the wagon doors and the spring 39 tendsto rotate the drum in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10.This rotation is prevented by the pawl 5| which is in engagement withthe ratchet 3|. The pawl 52 is out of engagement with the ratchet 33.The means for controlling the pawls 5| and 52 will now be described.

The pawl 52 is pivotally mounted on a trip lever 53 which is located onthe left-hand side of the drum l8, as shown in Fig. 1. At its lower endthe trip lever 53 carries a hand grip 54, and at its upper end it isprovided with an enlarged head 55 which is keyed or otherwise securedupon a shaft 56. The shaft 56 is rotatably mounted in a bracket 51 whichis bolted or otherwise secured upon the channel 26. The pawl 52 ispivotally mounted on a pin 58 which extends through lugs of the head 55.

It will be noted particularly in Fig. 4, that the trip lever 53, beingpivotally mounted on the axis of the shaft 56, and the axis of the pin58 being located between the line joining the axis of the shaft 56 tothe effective point of the pawl 52, it is necessary to raise the pin 58or, in other words, rotate the trip lever in counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 4, in order to release the doors and allowthe load to force them open. The amount of movement of the trip lever 53necessary in order to open the doors, is controlled by a stop screw 59which is adapted to abut against the edge of the channel 26, as

shown in Fig. 4. Means are provided for bolding the trip lever 53 in anormal position with the set screw 59 against this abutment. Such meanspreferably comprise a pin 66 pivotally mounted by means of a pin 6| uponthe bracket 51 so that the pin 50 can rotate in a vertical planeparallel to the ratchet 33. The outer end of the pin 66 is threaded soas to receive a washer 62 and lock nut 63. The washer 62 serves as anouter abutment for a helical spring 64, the inner end of which abutsagainst a collar 65 which is slidable on the pin 66. The collar 65 hasoutwardly projecting trunnions 66. The pin 66 and spring 64 is adaptedto extend freely through an opening 61 in the head 55 of the trip lever53. Inwardly or forwardly of this opening the head 55 is provided withslotted extensions 61, within the slots of which the trunnions 66 arelocated. These trunnions are adapted to engage the extensions 61 at theforward ends of the slots and thereby force the trip lever 53 forwardlyinto its normal position.

The shaft 56 is connected by means of a sleeve 68 to a shaft 69 which isrotatably mounted in a housing 16 which may suitably be integral withthe housing 21 previously referred to. Within the housing 16 an arm 1|is rigidly mounted on the shaft 69. At its free end the arm 1| carries aroller 12 which is adapted to engage a flange 13 of a lever 14. Thelever 14 is pivotally mounted by means of a shaft 15 in the housing 19,and carries the pivot pin 16 of the pawl 5|. At its upper end the lever14 has pivotally connected thereto a rod 11 which passes through anopening in a guide lock 18 in the housing 19, and is providedtherebeyond with a helical spring 19, abutment washer 86 and locknutsBl. As shown in Fig. 7 the lock nuts 8| project through an opening82 in the housing 10 so that the compression of the helical spring 19may be adjusted at will. With refer ence to Fig. 7, it will be notedthat the spring 19 serves to rotate the lever 14 in counter-clockwisedirection and maintain the pivot pin 16 of the pawl 5| at a low positionso that said pawl may engage the teeth of the ratchets 3|. The lowermostposition of the pivot pin 16 is adjusted by means of a screw 83 which ismounted in a web 84, which may be integral with the housing 16.

It will be noted with relation to Figs. 9 and 10, that by pulling thetrip arm 53 forwardly, the pivots of both pawls 5| and 52 are elevatedand the direction of rotation of the drum depends upon which forceacting upon it is the stronger, that is, when the wagon is empty thespring will effect rotation of the drum in the clockwise direction, asshown in these figures, whereas if the wagon is loaded, the weight ofthe load will rotate the drum in the opposite direction. Assuming thedoors to be shut and the wagon to be loaded, the relation of the pawlsto the ratchets is shown in Fig. 9. When the trip lever 53 is pulledforwardly the pivots of both pawls 5| and 52 are elevated. Pawl 5| is soconfigured that its ends move downwardly by gravity into contact withthe teeth of the ratchet 3|. When the pawls have elevated sufficiently,both pawls are carried through in a clockwise direction so that theirpoints are directed to the left, as shown in Fig. 10. The relation ofpawls shown in Fig. 10 is attained when the trip lever 53 is allowed toreturn to its original position under the influence of spring 64.Assuming the doors to be open and the load to be dumped, then the pawls5| and 52 are in the relation shown in Fig. 10. When the handle 53 isagain moved forwardly the pivots of the 'pawls :5I and 52 are bothelevated and eventually they are carried through :by the tension of thespring, which causes the ratchets :31 and T82 to rotate in the clockwisedirection. When the handle '53 is released, the pawls returnto theposition shown in Fig. 9.

In the event of breakage of the spring I provide a hand lever 85. Thishand lever-has its end bifurcated and the ends are provided withelongated openings .86 through which pass the collars 54 of the shaft :2I, the ends being located on either side of the ratchet 33. The handlever 85 is provided with a tooth 81, which extends between theends,which-tooth 81 is adapted to be brought into contact with the teethof the pinion 33 so that the drum may be wound up by hand by means ofthe hand lever. It is preferred "to provide means whereby the lever .85is removed from operative contact with the pinion 33, whenthe load is tobe dumped. For this reason I provide on the lever 85 a contact member 88and on the triplever 53, I provide a cam surface .89 of such shape thatit will engage the contact member, 88 and move the lever 85 away fromthe ratchet 33 so that the tooth 9'! is out of contact therewith. Whenthis occurs the lever 85 falls by gravity to its normal position.

It is preferred to provide means which will enable the cams 5i and 52 tobe actuated, in the manner described above, from a distance,for example,from the seat of a tractor to which the wagon is hitched, so that thedumping operation and the return of the doors may be effected withoutthe tractor driver getting'down from his seat. For this purpose I maymount a rod 96 along the side of the wagon, suitably guided in openingson the angle irons reinforcing the sides thereof. This rod may beconnected to the tractor by means of a flexible cord or the like. Therear end of the rod 90 is secured to a short lever 9i which is {rigidlymounted on a rod 92 rotatably mounted in a bracket 93 and in a bracket94 mounted on the channel section 26, adjacent the ratchet 33..

Adjacent the bracket 94, the rod 92 has mounted thereon a rearwardlyprojecting arm 95. To the arm 95 is pivotally mounted a link 96, whichprojects upwardly and is pivotally mounted at its upper end to a boss 91on the head 55. It will readily be seen that when the rod 90 is pulledforwardly, the rod 92 is rotated so as to elevate the outward end of thearm 95 and the link 96 causing the elevation of the head 55 of the triparm 53 about its pivot 56, this. movement having theeifect of raisingthe pivots of the pawls 5| and 52 with the results described above,depending upon the condition of load and door opening prevailing.

If desired, the mechanism described above may readily be made over intoa hand-operated device. For this purpose the housings 43'and 21 areremoved, together with all the mechanism therein, likewise the sleeve68. The drum member 29 may or may not be removed, as desired.

- If it is removed it may be replaced by an element hand directly or maybe done through the remote movement of the rod 90, the doors will bereleased and the load will force them open. To close the doors, the triplever 53 is again moved forwardly which has the effect of permitting thepawl 52ito move into operative relation with the ratchet 33, thismovement being ref fected by gravity owing to the shape of the pawl andthe manner inwhich it is weighted. The trip lever 53 is allowed toreturn to its normal position and the handle 85 can be operated torotate the drum and close the doors, as =de-' scribed above.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with thespecific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must beunderstood that such details are not intended to be limitative ofthe'invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letter Patent of the United States is:

1. A spring "windup for wagons adapted to operate wagon doors,comprising a drum adapted to receive flexible members, bearings for saiddrum, a pinion-on said drum, a gear in mesh with said pinion, a bearingfor said gear, a base onwhich said bearings are mounted, said base beingmounted on the wagon wall, a helical spring, one end of which is securedto said gear, an endmember operatively secured to said spring,

means rigidly securing said end member to said" wall, and releasablemeans adapted to hold said drum against rotation in both directions. 7

2. A spring- .windup for wagons adapted to operatewagon doorsjcomprisingadrum adapt the tension of the spring at a desired degree, and

releasable means adapted to hold said drum against rotation in bothdirections.

3. A spring windup for wagons adapted to operate wagon doors, comprisinga drum adapted to receive a flexible member whereby it may be rotated inone direction, a spring adapted to 'rotate the drum in the oppositedirection, a pair of oppositely directed ratchets on said drum, a

. pawl cooperating witheach ratchet and'pivotally mounted, each pawlbeing counterweighted so that it tends to direct return by gravity toits operative position with its point toward its ratchet, one pawl beingnormally in operative engagement with its ratchet and the other beingout of operative engagement with its ratchet, and a pivoted frame forelevating the pivotal supports of the pawls simultaneously awayfrom theratchets to permit the pawl in operative position to be drawn by itsratchet into inoperative position and permit the pawl in the inoperativeposition to return to its operative position.

4. A spring windup for wagons adapted to operate wagon doors, comprisinga drum, flexible means connecting same to said doors whereby the weightof the load tends to rotate the drum in one direction, a spring adaptedto rotate the drum in the opposite direction, and a pair of oppositelydirected ratchets on said drum, a freeswinging pawl associated with eachratchet and conformed counterweighted so that its operative point isbiased by gravity towards opered to receive flexible members, bearingsfor said ative engagement with its ratchet, rocking means adapted toraise the pivotal axes of said pawls away from the ratchets, whereby thedrum rotating in one direction carries the operative pawl with it intoinoperative position and carries the non-operative pawl into itsoperating position.

5. A spring windup for wagons adapted tooperate wagon doors, comprisinga drum adapted to receive a flexible member whereby it may be rotated inone direction during the opening of the doors, a spring adapted torotate the drum in the opposite direction to close the doors, a pair ofoppositely directed ratchets rigidly associated with said drum, a pawlcooperating with each ratchet, a swinging frame upon which one pawl ispivotally mounted, an arm on which the other pawl is pivotally mounted,each pawl being counterweighted so that it tends to return by gravity tooperative position with its point towards its ratchet, one pawl beingnormally in operative engagement with its ratchet and the other beingout of operative engagement with its ratchet, means for swinging theframe so as to elevate the pawl mounted thereon, and means on the framecooperating with said arm to elevate the other pawl simultaneouslywhereby the pawl in operative position may be drawn by its ratchet intoinoperative position and the pawl in the inoperative position permittedto return to its operative position.

6. A spring windup for wagons adapted to operate wagon doors, comprisinga drum adapted to receive a flexible member whereby it may be rotated inone direction during the opening of the doors, a spring adapted torotate the drum in the opposite direction to close the doors, a pair ofoppositely directed ratchets rigidly associated with said drum, a pawlcooperating with each ratchet, a swinging frame upon which one pawl ispivotally mounted, an arm on which the other pawl is pivotally mounted,each pawl being counterweighted so that it tends to return by gravity tooperative position with its point towards its ratchet, one pawl beingnormally in operative engagement with its ratchet and the other beingout of operative engagement with its ratchets, means for swinging theframe so as to elevate the pawl mounted thereon, means on the framecooperating with said arm to elevate the other pawl simultaneouslywhereby the pawl in operative position may be drawn by its ratchet intoinoperative position and the pawl in the inoperative position permittedto return to its operative position, and adjustable means independent ofthe swinging frame for limiting the downward movement of said arm.

'7. A spring windup for wagons adapted to operate wagon doors,comprising a drum adapted to receive a flexible member whereby it may berotated in one direction during the opening of the doors, a springadapted to rotate the drum in the opposite direction to close the doors,a pair of oppositely directed ratchets rigidly associated with said drumat opposite ends thereof, a pawl cooperating with each ratchet, aswinging frame upon which one pawl is pivotally mounted, an arm on whichthe other pawl is pivotally mounted, each pawl being counterweighted sothat it tends to return by gravity to operative position with its pointtowards its ratchet, one pawl being normally in operative engagementwith its ratchet and the other being out of operative engagement withits ratchet, means for swinging the frame so as to elevate the pawlmounted thereon, and means on the frame cooperating with said arm toelevate the other pawl simultaneously, said frame extending from one endof the drum to the other, whereby the pawl in operative position may bedrawn by its ratchet into inoperative position and the pawl in theinoperative position permitted to return to its operative position.

JOSEPH KUCI-IAR.

